LETTER: Reader Has ‘Many Concerns’ About Annexation of White Center

There are many concerns I have about the upcoming possible annexation of White Center to Burien.

I will focus on only 3 concerns:

We are all going to have to pay more taxes for this annexation. In North Highline we will have to pay seven new taxes and fees to Burien. Where is the budget that shows how much Burien is really going to spend on North Highline area? Where is the 6 year plan for Capital Improvements that Burien is supposed to have put together for our area? And where is the money to fund those improvement going to come from?

Burien is one of the highest cost cities to live in right now based on the mil rate and the large amount of fees that have been attached to the utilities. How will this attract new businesses and home buyers into our area? Burien is a very expensive city to live in.

The Marijuana dispensaries bring lots of customers to White Center who then shop at our businesses. Why is Burien going to close these even if many of us do not want them closed? Mike Martin keeps saying that he will not do anything with zoning, etc. that we do not want done.

The citizens of Burien would like to have some answers to these questions before the vote in November for we are concerned about the quality of life that we can offer the White Center area and still do all the necessary spending in Burien.

Comments

Great observations. Also remember that currently Burien has fewer police officers per resident than most cities of similar size. Burien has less about 1.3 officers per 1000 residents and does not offer White Center residents any additional police officers than we currently get from King County. Seattle, by the way, provides 2,2 police officers per 1,000 residents. So, seven new taxes, no additional police and no improved services. And our property values will go down. I am a proud White Center resident and I am voting against Burien annexation.

Statements made by Linda merely parrot the noisy group of fear mongerers in this process. Linda, herself, is not responsible for this disinformation campaign. These statements have been launched into the ether without reference, verification or even common sense.

If you tell a fib often enough and loudly enough, it takes on a life of it’s own.

“Burien is one of the highest cost cities” — compared to what? Do you, or most people, even know what the term “mil rate” refers to? Do you know that about half of our taxes in Burien go to support the schools?

These are not facts, they are ‘factoids’ — opinions that are repeated and repeated in the effort to gain credibility. And they are about as useful as some other -oids.

It is sad how so few of us seek out facts on our own in an age when facts are at our fingertips.

Mr Lampear.. You appear to be a factoid yourself.. How about offering some real rebuttal to these facts that have been presented instead of puffing off about it.. Your post lacks any sort of credulity and is typical of the dam the torpedoes full speed ahead over the fiscal cliff propaganda that your buddy Mike Martin is pushing.

Linda, can you elaborate on the mil rate for Burien and your assertion about Burien being one the more expensive cities to live in? I’m actually curious how your arrived at this conclsion and/or what data you have on the topic.